A/N: Hi!
Once again we have two chapters in the same day! For the moment this is the best way in which we can speed up the rhyme of this story. We're sorry for the slow-burn but with these two we have practically all the elements that we contemplated in our timeline. So… be aware of a potential mild-spoiler in the parenthesis ahead (Just wait a little more, in chapter 16 there will be a moment that surely all of you have been waiting all this time) This counts as a spoiler we guess?
It must be said that chapter 14 starts with Hohenheim since we haven't heard from him since chapter 2, and will end with some interaction between Roy and Ed. There is a little moment from the canon between Ed and Al but… yeah we couldn't help it, we love the brotherhood and love between these two 3
In chapter 15 there will be more canon in comparison to chapter 14 but mainly because of the inclusion of one of the most important EdWin moments. Sorry but my EdWin heart could not overlook it hehe (Golden). And we finish with some interaction with Roy and Riza.
We really hope that you enjoy them and please let us know your opinions in the review section.
Finally and not least important, special thanks to Legendaryray5 for all your comments and suggestions! 3 and LilinAnade also thank you so much for taking the time to leave us so many detailed comments in several chapters. We appreciate it like you have no idea 3
Thanks for reading!
See you in two weeks!
Golden and Flame
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist characters don't belong to us. We are just having fun with them.
Chapter 14: Visits
"Resembool Station. Welcome!" A train station employee repeated.
"I'm back."
"Yes, hello si-" The clerk turned in surprise to see the stranger who had just passed him. At first he hadn't paid attention to him, but the deep voice and that golden ponytail of hair looked familiar. "Uh?" The man stood there watching as the individual handed the receipt slip for his suitcase to the ticket office attendant. As he did, the lady responded automatically only to be left with a doubtful expression shortly thereafter. Driven by his curiosity, the employee tried to catch the newcomer's attention but the man simply continued on his way without turning once.
Hohenheim could clearly hear the station clerk's voice but did not feel like talking to him. From the urgency in his tone of voice, he was almost certain that at last the clerk had remembered him and was surely looking to satiate his curiosity about his whereabouts all these years. Hohenheim was not exactly a sociable man but during his time on Resembool he had interacted amiably with several of its inhabitants so, under other circumstances, he would probably have stayed to share a casual chat with the clerk.
But now he was extremely anxious to get to his destination... The home where Trisha and their children were staying.
Since he was planning what he would have to do and where he would have to go to accomplish his mission he had realized that a couple of months would not be enough to accomplish it, so, sadly and resignedly, he had decided to move away from his family for a couple of years hoping to save them from the tragedy that was about to unfold and, with any luck, to also be able to find a way to obtain a mortal body.
During the course of his long life he never imagined himself capable and, above all, worthy of forming a family of his own. The weight of the souls in his body held him back and made him feel like a monster. What kind of family could a monster like him form?
But everything changed when Trisha appeared in his life. From the first talk they had shared, Hohenheim had felt enlightened by the warmth and glow that radiated from her. Despite her lonely appearance, she always approached him and tried to cheer him up by being able to make him smile like he had not done in many years. That was why despite his efforts to stay away from her in order not to involve her in his complicated existence, there came a point when Hohenheim could not take it anymore and decided to give in to his deepest desires: He wanted to share his life with Trisha.
He and Trisha never married. She never reproached him nor insisted on it because she understood his reasons and because, as she said, she did not need those formalities to share her life with the person she loved the most. Even when they had been living together for a short time, she gladly accompanied him on some trips when Hohenheim received interesting information about alchemy. Surely he was the man alive with the greatest knowledge of alchemy, but how to turn his body into a mortal one was something that had remained out of his reach over the centuries.
During one of those trips, both of their lives changed radically. Trisha had tried to convince him to have a child together but he had flatly refused for fear of what might happen to their offspring because he was the progenitor or simply because of his proximity. However, when Edward appeared in their lives it was almost impossible to refuse to take him in. His mother had suffered greatly in separating from him but she was conscious and determined that the best thing for her baby was to grow up away from her. Trisha, for her part, had practically fallen in love with Edward from those early days of helping to care for him. For Hohenheim it did not go unnoticed the way his beloved's face would light up when she held the baby or even when she simply talked about him. Back then he had begun to dread the moment when they would have to say goodbye to Riza and her baby. He knew that, although Trisha was a strong woman, parting from Edward after being with him during his first days of life was going to be a hard blow. The sadness of parting from him would add to her own longing to be a mother and Hohenheim was not sure he could comfort her without giving in to her desire to have children.
Despite his concerns for Trisha, as soon as Riza asked him to keep her son, Hohenheim could not help but feel doubt and uncertainty fill him. How could he allow himself to expose an innocent child to continuous and close contact with such a being as he was? It was precisely that indecision that prevented him from giving Edward's mother an immediate answer, but after discussing it with Trisha he had no choice but to bear his own insecurities and venture into the world of parenthood together with his beloved.
The first few weeks of adjusting to his new life were somewhat awkward for him. Edward's care was left mainly to Trisha and the times he intervened he did so with some trepidation. Despite his insecurity, Trisha did her best to involve him more and more in Edward's upbringing and when he shared moments with his new son, his beloved's huge smile did not go unnoticed by Hohenheim.
Before he knew it a couple of months passed and Hohenheim was surprised that by that point family life with a child at home was simply wonderful. Certainly there were somewhat exhausting changes with having a baby in the home but Hohenheim ended up enjoying every moment of raising Edward. Even though the baby cried continuously at night, the tiredness he felt seemed to fade away as he watched Trisha rock and sing sweetly to Edward to soothe him. And it was at moments like that, when memories of one of his greatest wishes from about 400 years ago made its presence known. It had definitely not happened in the way and in the time he had expected, but now, after a long life of regret, he had managed to fulfill the wish he had had when he was no longer a slave: to start a family.
Despite not being married, Trisha was still by his side and without a doubt she was the woman he had loved most in his life, and Edward, despite not carrying his blood, had become a beloved son to both him and his beloved. It was because of these thoughts that the next time Trisha insisted to him that Edward needed a baby brother, he could no longer refuse. He had truly fallen in love with his new family life.
Alphonse's arrival was one more light in his life. Hohenheim could never forget the look of happiness and pride on Trisha's face when he was finally able to enter the room where she had given birth so that he could meet his son. Trisha's expression was enough to appease the new worries that had arisen in him during his beloved's pregnancy. After all, somehow their new family seemed to be fully formed when Alphonse's gentle presence came to it.
Hohenheim never made distinctions between his children but he had to admit that he loved the fact that Alphonse had inherited the shape of his mother's eyes. From then on, the new arrival looked like a copy of him and, even if it was a coincidence, it finally helped them to avoid premature questions from Edward, since the color of eyes and hair left no doubt for the others that Hohenheim was the father of both children.
The happiest years of Hohenheim's life were spent in a small house in Resembool with his wife and two children. Although his alchemical research still occupied a significant part of his time, hearing his children's laughter and feeling their and his beloved's presence in the same house was something that brought him immeasurable peace. Also, as time went on, he had done his best to overcome his own fears and insecurities so that he could share more moments with his family. Although his family interactions did not reach the common level of a typical family, Trisha always smiled at him and encouraged him to forget his painful past and fully enjoy his present.
Ironically, Hohenheim ended up discovering that the thought of enjoying his present caused him greater concern. He was sick of watching his friends grow old and die when time did not pass through his own body. He was tired of it but in a way he was resigned to his fateful destiny, or well... that had been before. Now he wanted nothing more than to be able to live, grow old and die at the same pace as Trisha. He wanted to be able to watch his children grow up without having to worry that in the future he would see them die. His children were growing up in front of his eyes without the slightest change in his own body.
What had begun as planning a trip to find a solution to his personal problem soon escalated when his preliminary investigations revealed to him the horrible fate that was being planned for the inhabitants of Amestris. So, with much regret, he had to undertake the long journey that separated him for so many years from his beloved family when his children were very young.
His journey still had a few places left to visit to effectively achieve his goal but he had left Resembool so many years ago that, being in a town near him, he could not restrain his urges and headed as fast as he could in search of his home.
During all the time that had passed, Hohenheim had had no contact of any kind with his family. At first he thought about sending a letter to Trisha but his fear that his letter might be intercepted in the sending stopped him from doing so. His children did not bear his last name but he feared that his simple first name would be enough for his family to be put in danger.
He had asked Trisha not to tell his children anything about his past or his body, so he didn't know how they would receive him after such a long absence. Sadly he had missed his children's childhood, but with Trisha's education, affection and guidance he was sure that Edward and Alphonse would be fine young men and, although they might be a little reserved with him, he hoped they would give him the opportunity to at least spend time with them on this brief visit before resuming his journey.
The voice of the station clerk had disappeared a few minutes ago as his footsteps instinctively followed the path. Despite the years that had passed, he remembered perfectly every path and every turn he had to take to get home. So he kept walking and getting lost in his thoughts until the small hill on which his home stood appeared in his field of vision and, as if someone had punched him in the stomach, he staggered and stopped to look carefully. From his position he could not see even the slightest trace of his home, the only thing that stood out was the old tree from which years ago hung a swing but now its branches were devoid of leaves and looked considerably blackened.
Frightened at what he could see in the distance, Hohenheim hurried his steps with his eyes fixed on the hill where his house should be. The closer he got, the more the uneasy feeling inside him grew. What had happened? Where was his family? He practically ran the last remaining meters and, when he was next to the tree he had seen in the distance, he could no longer deny the reality that was appearing before his eyes: his house had disappeared and the remains left no doubt that a fire was the cause of this fact.
Of all the scenarios he had envisioned on the way to Resembool, he never imagined he would have to face what was right in front of him. He had always believed that his house would look exactly the same as he had seen it before he left and if it had changed there would only be minor modifications such as a different exterior color or perhaps a new planter out front. Instead he was now faced with the harsh reality of discovering that the home in which he had begun raising a family was reduced to ashes.
Hohenheim stood for a few minutes staring at the remains of his home as his mind took in what he saw. He knew there was no point in focusing on anything material no matter how many memories it brought back, but a part of him regretted losing the place where he had formed precious memories. After a while, he sighed heavily and retraced his steps. He regretted the loss of his home but the uneasiness that the recent discovery had awakened in him was gradually growing. He needed to know what had happened to Trisha and their children, and there was only one person who could help him.
Pinako Rockbell was at home quietly looking through a photo album. She had no patients to attend to that day and the orders she had pending were ready to be delivered as soon as customers came to pick them up. Despite Winry's absence, her own experience had helped her to make the necessary adjustments so that she could properly fill the orders that her granddaughter had previously helped her with. Certainly Winry's help was quite helpful in maintaining the family business but she was more than proud to know that her granddaughter was creating her own path and reputation in Rush Valley. Now what she resented most, although she always denied it when neighbors asked, was how big and lonely her house felt. It was because of this that instead of going to hang out in the center of town she had opted to rest at home and take the opportunity to immerse herself in the memories that were stored in her album. Despite having a cork board full of photographs, from time to time she liked to take out her old album since she kept some photos there that she preferred not to put on the board for fear of damaging them.
Pinako was looking with a smile at a photograph that her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter had taken themselves on one of Winry's birthdays when Den abruptly stood up and began to growl in the direction of the front door of the house.
"What is it, Den? Do we have visitors?" Intrigued, Pinako rose from her chair and walked over to the door to open it, followed closely by Den.
She had barely unlocked the door when the visitor finished opening it, exclaiming worriedly. "Pinako... I seem to have lost my home."
"Hohenheim!"
Prompted by her owner's surprised tone, Den stepped between her and the visitor, barking and baring his fangs menacingly.
"I'm sorry if I scared you!" The blond exclaimed as he bent down to try to pet Den, but it only provoked more barking.
"Stop it, Den." Pinako said trying to reassure her pet.
Den seemed to understand what his owner was telling him, so he stopped barking but kept his eyes fixed on the newcomer, occasionally showing him his fangs.
Hohenheim smiled sadly. "Animals have never liked me."
Pinako sighed. "You know... in all these years you haven't changed a bit."
Hohenheim kept his sad smile as he ran a hand over the back of his neck. "You're not going to tell me that after all these years you're going to ask me to explain myself."
She smiled. "If I've learned anything in all these years of knowing you it's that you can be really evasive with sharing what's going on in your head. Besides as long as you still have the same tolerance for alcohol as always I don't have a problem." She said as she started walking in the direction of the kitchen.
"Wait." Pinako turned to look at him. "First of all I want you to tell me what happened to my family and my house."
Pinako resumed her walk. "Trust me, you're going to need at least one drink before you know everything that happened in your absence." She replied seriously.
Hohenheim said nothing more and silently sat down in one of the chairs at the table on which the photo album sat, while Den watched him intently and warily throughout. Slowly he removed his glasses and placed them on the table. If ever he had someone to call a friend, that was Pinako Rockbell and therefore he had learned to interpret some of her expressions before she even uttered a word. So he was sure of one thing: something very serious had happened.
In the company of a bottle of rum and a couple of glasses, Pinako told Hohenheim everything that had happened. Although his mind had imagined terrible scenarios when he discovered the remains of his house, Hohenheim was terribly shocked by everything that had happened. The shock of having lost the love of his life was brutal, so much so that his own glass was practically forgotten once Pinako gave him the sad news. Then the feeling of unease only increased as she related to him the actions of his children and the consequences they bore to this day.
Hohenheim was by nature a man of few words, but noticing that his friend had not uttered a word since she had told him about Trisha, Pinako began to worry. "Hey, are you okay?"
He sighed heavily and ran a hand over his face. "It's a lot to take in. I never thought so much could happen."
Pinako took a puff on his inseparable pipe. "Unfortunately a lot of difficult things happened around here but I must remind you that you were gone for over 10 years. Things couldn't stay the same way until you came back." She said frankly.
Hohenheim looked sadly at the liquid in his glass. "I know... I thought it would be best for everyone if you didn't hear from me until I came back."
She sighed. "I still don't know what you've been doing all this time but now that you're here maybe you could help your sons in their research. It's the least you can do after disappearing for so long."
"That's not possible at the moment." Pinako raised an eyebrow, indignant. "People who have carried out a human transmutation have been few and generally tend to accept the loss of the parts of their body that the transmutation itself took in exchange. The only possible option to get them back would be with the philosopher's stone they are already searching for." He lifted his gaze and stared at his friend. "Growing up with the teachings and affection Trisha gave them as children, I'm sure neither Edward nor Alphonse will make use of it even if they get it."
She looked at him in confusion. "Then you should help them find another solution."
"My journey is not over yet. I'll be leaving on the first train tomorrow." He glanced quickly at the clock resting on one of the walls. "I'd better go visit Trisha before it gets dark." Without waiting for a reply he got up and made his way to the front door.
"Hohenheim!" Pinako quickly stood up. "If you won't help them, do you expect Edward's parents to do so?"
Hohenheim, who was putting back on the coat he had taken off before sitting at the table, stopped. "What are you talking about, Pinako? You very well know that his mother decided to walk out of his life for good and his father probably doesn't even know of his existence."
She snorted. "Why do you think Ed even thought of going into the military?"
He finished adjusting his jacket and turned to her friend. "Did he...?"
Pinako interrupted him, "Edward doesn't know anything. But that didn't stop that Riza woman and Ed's father from personally coming to recruit him."
"That's not possible. She was determined to keep him away from her and thus from the military. Edward may be in danger if it gets out who his real parents are."
She laughed bitterly. "Come on, Hohenheim. I'm sure you've lived through too much for you to fall into naivety now. Well, I must admit that I too believed Ed's mother's motives when you told me about them, but as soon as I realized that she was the one recruiting him I realized that she ended up taking advantage of you and Trisha. It only occurred to her to track him down and come back for him when she realized the potential he had so she could use him to make herself look good in front of the higher ups."
Riza's hurt expression appeared in Hohenheim's mind. "It must be a mistake. She really was devastated when she had to separate from Edward. Are you absolutely sure it's the same person? Have you talked to her?"
"I haven't spoken to her but I don't need to. Both her name and Ed's father's name match. They're both in the military and to top it off, they work together in the same unit. What more proof do you want?"
He put a hand to his chin and looked at the ground. "Impossible... I can't believe Riza would have sought out her son under those circumstances. Unless..." He looked up. "She knows Edward is her son?"
Pinako faltered slightly. "Yes, well... I suppose. It seems to me that too many coincidences have occurred for her not to know that Edward is her son."
"That's a wild guess, Pinako. The lady I knew years ago didn't seem to be as power-hungry a person as you're implying."
"The military isn't exactly a walk in a park. That's not to mention the war that both she and this Roy guy were actively involved in. Don't you think that would be reason enough to drastically change a person?"
Hohenheim sighed. "Unfortunately that could be the case, but I still find it hard to believe. Maybe the one pulling all the strings is Edward's father, he might have been the one with the idea to bring his son into the army."
"Why are you defending her so much? Even if the one with the idea was the father that doesn't make Riza any better off. The mere fact that she would allow her son to be actively working in the military from such a young age seems despicable to me."
Hohenheim took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes with one hand. "Maybe you're right." He said unconvinced. "It's just that I'm tired. Learning about everything that has happened over the years has left me exhausted, so I don't have the head to properly analyze the situation with Edward and his biological parents. I just want to go see Trisha." He added sadly then resumed his walk towards the front door.
Pinako watched him walk away and sighed. She understood that the news had left him overwhelmed but she was surprised at how calmly he had dealt with the matter of Edward. Most of all she was surprised at the confidence he still seemed to have in Riza. "Hey." The blond paused but didn't turn to look at her. "Do you think it's time to tell Ed the truth?"
"With everything he and Alphonse have been through I think he'll be able to face the truth but I'm not sure if it's the right time to tell him."
"Well, I suppose we can discuss it more when you get back. You're not going to deny your old friend a nice bottle of rum, are you? Don't think I didn't notice that you couldn't even take more than three swigs from your glass." Pinako said with a slight smile.
"Sure." Without another word Hohenheim left the house.
Hohenheim spent a few minutes in front of Trisha's grave before the sound of uneven footsteps announced Ed's arrival. Turning to face his son he could truly realize the impact of the elapsed time. Although on thinking about it he had expected Edward to be a little taller for his age, the boy had certainly grown up. Gone were those years when Ed, closely followed by Al, would reach for the doorknob of his study door trying to figure out what he was doing there for so long as well as seeking to gain his attention to play with him.
Although Edward had been subjected to Trisha's influence more years than his own, Hohenheim was surprised to realize that Ed had a rather similar attitude to the one he himself had had hundreds of years ago. Perhaps it was arrogant of him but a part of him was happy that Edward bore some resemblance to him. Perhaps the boy did not carry the same blood as he did but to him Edward would always be his son.
Detecting that similarity in his old personality, Hohenheim didn't quite know how to react or what to say to his son. As much as he loved his family, he never quite knew how to adjust to fatherhood and was not sure what he should do. He tried to make some casual small talk to Ed about his status as a state alchemist, about his hair, and about his house. In talking about what happened with his house, Hohenheim tried to come clean with Ed about what it meant to want to run away from past mistakes but unfortunately his way of approaching the subject seemed to unsettle and upset Edward, preventing him from making any further progress on the matter.
After his brief talk with Ed at the cemetery, the two headed for Pinako's house although his son always tried to keep the lead so he wouldn't have to see or talk to him. During the drive, Hohenheim wanted to initiate conversation but the few times he managed to articulate a few words didn't really pay off.
When Pinako saw the two of them arrive, he quickly understood that they would have to leave their previous conversation pending indefinitely. Instead, he hurried to prepare dinner for the three of them and, as soon as Ed retired to his room after a dinner in which words were scarce, he brought out a couple of bottles of rum.
The talk between Hohenheim and Pinako began a little simpler than the one they had had when he had first arrived at her house. Afterwards, Pinako again reproached him for having been gone so long without having contacted his family in all that time and shortly thereafter mentioned again some events following the human transmutation that Ed and Al had attempted. At that point, Hohenheim figured that Ed was listening in on their conversation when Den casually left his guardian's post and headed for the next room. Because of this, he decided to nudge Edward by implying to Pinako that the creature they had created in the transmutation probably didn't have the slightest connection to Trisha.
After the topic of the effects of human transmutation, the conversation slowly drifted to old memories and not long after each retired to rest.
The next day, as soon as the rooster announced dawn, Hohenheim was already ready to take the train to his next destination. As Pinako was calling for Ed, he started toward the door and discovered the Rockbell picture board. He smiled sadly as he saw Trisha in several of them and, when Pinako was close, he asked her for the only photograph their family had ever taken together: Trisha, Ed, Al and him. Pinako had no objections and Hohenheim took it and put it in his vest pocket. In exchange for the photograph he advised her old friend to leave the country because something serious might happen soon, something Pinako dismissed on the spot.
He had only gone a couple of steps away from the small stone fence of the Rockbell residence when Pinako called out to him. "Hohenheim!" he turned to see her. "Try coming to lunch with us once in a while."
Surprised by the invitation, Hohenheim gave an almost imperceptible nod. He was about to resume his walk when he remembered something. "Pinako, if you deem it appropriate tell him the truth. I trust you." And without further ado he turned around, raised his left hand by way of farewell and continued walking without waiting for his friend's response.
Although Ed did not know it, the words he had heard from Hohenheim had had the effect his own father had hoped for. Determined to face reality, he returned to the source of his traumas and nightmares and, with Pinako's help, unearthed the creature he and Al had created four years ago. The experience was not a pleasant one, his own insecurities, the painful memories and his growing fear of discovering the truth caused him such a strong emotional drain that the only way to deal with the mission in front of him was to vomit occasionally. The rain didn't help either as in that weather his arm and leg ports tended to cause him pain and discomfort.
Despite the physical and emotional pain caused by his decision to discover the truth, he and Pinako found the location of the creature that had emerged from the human transmutation and with that, what Hohenheim had hinted at was confirmed: this being was not his mother. The revelation was shocking and, although at one point Pinako seriously feared that he had reached his breaking point, in the end that very discovery gave him motivation since Ed was now certain that his brother's body still existed and therefore there really was a chance for Al to return to his normal self.
The same afternoon that he and Pinako dug up the creature they made a small grave for it, and upon returning home, Ed took the opportunity to call his sensei and share his discovery with her as he suspected that she too had been living with the remorse of having killed her loved one. Due to the implications of Ed's hypothesis, Izumi froze in surprise and hung up without giving her student an answer.
The next day, before taking the train, Ed and Pinako visited the cemetery. Ed took the opportunity to tell her that he had met some of the Ishvalans who had been saved by the Rockbells, omitting to tell her that he knew how they had died and most probably also who had done it. Pinako smiled proudly at the actions of her son and daughter-in-law. Soon after, when they were both standing in front of Trisha's grave, Pinako entrusted him with a message for Hohenheim. Ed was not happy to have to do it, although he assured her that he would do it after giving him a blow. Pinako sighed and agreed but also tried to make him see that, in spite of everything Hohenheim cared as much for him as he did for Al. Believe me, boy, Hohenheim is much more of a father to you than your biological parents ever were. The old woman thought bitterly as she watched Ed walk away toward the train station.
During the trip back to Central, Ed was anxious and worried about how his brother would react to the news of what he had discovered, so as soon as he arrived at his destination station he quickly ran off in the direction of the hotel where he had been staying until a couple of days ago. On entering he found Winry at the reception desk and, as soon as he had uttered her name to greet her, she dragged him to the room where Al was.
As soon as he entered the room he was too surprised to find Al shattered, as it was more common that the one who got into trouble was himself and not his younger brother. So he immediately set to work to repair Al's armor, warning him that in some parts the armor would be thinner because he would have to use some of it to form the missing parts. While he was repairing it, Ed noticed that Al was avoiding looking him in the eye so he asked him what was wrong and, making a sighing sound, Al told him about Barry The Chopper and the problems the assassin had mentioned to him about soul incompatibility. Up to that point Al had merely told the main problem that had been on his mind but Ed figured there was more to it but didn't force it until he had finished fixing it.
"Al, what the hell did you get yourself into? There was a scratch mark near your blood seal. Don't think I didn't notice it so I want you to explain everything." Ed ordered his younger brother.
"Ah, I guess I'd better go call Granny Pinako so you two can talk." Winry said as she left the room to give the brothers privacy.
As soon as they were alone, Ed stared at his brother, raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, as he sat down on the bed that was parallel to Al's. "Well?"
Al made a sighing sound. "By now, I assume you've been informed that the Colonel made a plan to try to find out about Mr. Hughes' killer." Ed only nodded, inviting his brother to continue. "All that led us to the military's Laboratory 3. There we came across another homunculus named Lust, who was a woman who could extend her fingers in the shape of extremely sharp claws. With one simple move she disposed of Barry and mortally wounded Lieutenant Havoc and the Colonel."
"WHAT?!, what the hell are you saying Al? That freak almost killed two trained military men? Even the bastard Colonel who has such powerful alchemy?" Ed said extremely surprised.
With his hands Al signaled him to calm down so he could continue. "Calm down, brother. I don't know exactly how she hurt the Colonel and Lieutenant Havoc, because when we entered the Laboratory 3 we were divided into 2 groups: the Colonel with Lieutenant Havoc in one group and in the other was the Lieutenant and me. I only know that that homunculus pierced them with its claws and that if the Colonel had not cauterized their wounds with his alchemy, they probably would have died. Even Lust believed them dead."
Ed was still shocked at what he was hearing. "But how did you get hurt like that, if you were going with the Lieutenant?"
Al got a little nervous as he remembered the Lieutenant's moment of vulnerability in those moments, so he put a hand to the back of his neck. "Mmm... um... well..."
"Al?"
Al made a sighing sound. "As I told you, Lust thought the Colonel and Lieutenant Havoc were dead. Since we knew so much just by going in there, she said she would annihilate us as well as the other two. When the Lieutenant heard that the Colonel was dead, at first she didn't want to believe it but when she realized that Lust was telling the truth, she took the weapons she was carrying and unloaded them against the homunculus, one after the other until she ran out of bullets. Obviously it did nothing to her, as Lust regenerated as Greed did, but at that moment the Lieutenant only cared about revenge. Running out of bullets, she dropped to her knees on the ground and began to cry inconsolably."
"The Lieutenant crying? You've got to be kidding me." Ed said in an incredulous tone.
"Oh come on, brother, you say that like she's not expressive."
"That's not what I mean, Al. The Lieutenant is a woman who is not cold as many people think, but she is a very strong and brave person, that's why I'm surprised at what you're telling me."
"Well believe it, brother. I never thought I'd see her this devastated." Al paused slightly. "In those moments she completely gave up on life, brother. She was willing to let herself be murdered by that homunculus. That's why I stepped in when I saw that Lust was making an attempt on the Lieutenant's life, to protect her."
"But, Al, Lust could have killed you... those scratches were really close to your blood seal." Ed said with a concerned tone as he stood up and placed his left hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I know, brother. But remember we promised to protect the people we hold dear, that we would do everything in our power to keep them from dying. The Lieutenant has always been very good to us and seeing her in that state came as quite a shock to me. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her, not while I was there."
Ed sighed heavily and patted his brother on the shoulder before withdrawing his hand. "I know, Al. We both promised, but how did you get rid of the homunculus?"
"The Colonel showed up and with his alchemy burned her over and over again until she ran out of more energy to regenerate."
"But didn't you say he was mortally wounded?"
Al nodded. "Yes, but he cauterized his and Lieutenant Havoc's wound and as best he could he found us and saved us. Once Lust was beaten, he dropped to the ground and the Lieutenant immediately ran to help him. If the Colonel hadn't shown up, I'm not too sure I could have managed to get out of there alive."
Ed dropped onto the bed to analyze what his brother had told him. "I still don't understand the Lieutenant's behavior."
Al laughed lightly. "Really, brother?"
"What's so funny?" Ed grumbled, crossing his arms.
"That you can't figure out the reason behind the Lieutenant's behavior." Al said in an amused tone.
"Well I don't understand." Said a grumpy Ed.
At that instant, Winry re-entered the room and noticing Al's laughter, asked. "What's so funny? Weren't you supposed to tell him what happened in Laboratory 3, Al?"
"Yes, I did. But here my dear brother is intrigued as to why the Lieutenant collapsed. According to him he has no idea." Al let out another chuckle.
"Are you serious, Ed?" Winry asked incredulously.
"Well the only thing I can imagine is that she was devastated to hear that she had lost two comrades."
At Ed's response, Winry joined in Al's laughter. "Oh, Ed. You're so dumb sometimes."
"Hey, who are you calling dumb?" Ed asked annoyed.
"Calm down, brother. We just can't believe you're so blind, despite the details I just gave you. I let it go before but I've been chatting with Winry and from what I told her we both came to the same conclusion."
"Well what's your guess, smartasses?" Ed said, folding his arms.
"Al and I think the Lieutenant is in love with the Colonel and he with her." Winry replied in a soft voice as she sat down next to Ed.
"WHAT?! You guys are kidding, right?"
"Why are you having a hard time believing this, brother? I told you, she was devastated, she immediately ran to his side with tears streaming down her face and the first thing he did was ask her if she was okay and also thanked me for protecting her."
Ed shook his head. "I can't believe it."
"Are you implying I'm a liar, brother?" Al asked with a tone of mock annoyance.
Ed shook his head. "No, not at all, Al. I just can't believe that such a nice, pretty woman could fixate on a worthless bastard like the Colonel. From him well I wouldn't be surprised, he has a reputation as a womanizer just like Havoc." Ed paused slightly. "Yet another reason to doubt the Lieutenant is in love with that guy. She couldn't fall in love with a guy who just plays around with women. She's a smart woman."
Al just shook his head. "I don't know, brother. To me it seemed like a sincere and natural demonstration of her true feelings. Obviously at the time I didn't think about it, but when I talked it over with Winry, we both came to that conclusion."
Winry nodded. "Yes, plus I remember something that fits perfectly. When they went to Resembool to recruit you, I had a little talk with the Lieutenant. She told me she didn't like being in the military and when I asked her why she was still there, she replied, with a slight smile, that it was because she needed to protect someone. I began to suspect it was the Colonel, because she was looking at him in a special way when they left the house and now, with what Al told me, I can confirm it."
"No, no, it can't be. She deserves someone better than that guy." Ed continued to renege.
"Come on Ed, it sounds to me like they'd make a beautiful couple, if they're not already dating." Winry said in a dreamy tone as she pictured the couple.
"How would you like to be with a womanizer? Have you already forgotten that bastard was flirting with you the other time?"
"Ed, he wasn't flirting with me, he was just being nice, did you just assume that because you were jealous?" Winry asked with a mischievous grin.
"Were you jealous, brother?" Al joined in with an amused and interested tone at Ed's response.
"NO! Why would I be jealous?" Ed grunted and averted his gaze for a moment. "That's not the topic of our conversation, so getting back to what we were talking about, I hope you're both wrong."
"Oh come on, Ed, I think they'd look great together. What's more, the Colonel should work up the courage and ask her out. Besides, I think maybe he's not as much of a womanizer as he wants to pretend." Winry replied.
"Why do you think that?" Ed questioned.
"Because if he was, the Lieutenant wouldn't fall for him. Plus I've seen the respectful way the Colonel treats her, I feel like there's something else but I don't know how to explain it, it's like a hunch." Winry replied.
Ed sighed heavily. "Assuming there was something going on between them, they wouldn't be able to date or anything like that unless either of them left the military, which I highly doubt that's going to happen in the midst of all this fuss."
"Why?" Winry asked despondently.
"Right, I'd forgotten. They couldn't because of the anti-fraternization laws. If they violated them, they'd be court-martialed." Al replied in a defeated tone.
"Too bad, they have good chemistry." Winry said.
"I think it's better for the Lieutenant." Ed said.
"Brother, don't be so harsh. I remind you that the Colonel ended up saving my life and hers."
"Okay, I have to acknowledge that the Colonel bastard did show off by saving you guys and being able to defeat a homunculus. But don't forget that these are only assumptions and we have to be discreet, we don't want to get them in trouble for something that may not even be true. Besides..." Ed clenched his fists. and looked at his brother with determination "There's something I need to talk to you about, Al."
"What is it, brother?" Al asked.
Ed told him that, during his trip to Resembool, he had unearthed the remains of the creature they had created during the human transmutation. Al was surprised and began to question why he had done so when Ed revealed that this being was not their mother. Once the initial surprise passed, Ed asked Winry why she had rejected them as children to verify that Al's memories were real and thus confirm that what inhabited the armor really was his younger brother's soul (even if he didn't accept it, there was also a small part of him that was curious about Winry's motives for rejecting them). After confirming that part of his hypothesis, Ed began to explain to Al what had really happened during the transmutation, concluding that it was indeed possible to retrieve Al's body since his body was probably trapped on the other side of the portal of the Truth.
Upon finishing the exposition of his hypothesis, Ed bowed his head and said to Al, "I am not asking for your forgiveness. I transmuted a totally unrelated being and dragged you into it." Winry looked at him sadly. "And now I've given you a body that's a ticking time bomb. I..." Al looked intently at his brother but before Ed could continue he was interrupted by a knock on his room door.
A hotel employee informed him that he had a call from Izumi Curtis, so Ed went to the front desk to answer it. During the call, his sensei told him that she had investigated and confirmed that the being she had transmuted had no chance of actually being her son. After chatting a bit about what that discovery implied regarding the effects of the gate of Truth, Izumi thanked Ed and immediately hung up.
As Ed approached the stairs to return to his room he found Al at the foot of the stairs, who asked him. "Brother, what did sensei say?"
"I don't know why but she said 'thank you'" Ed replied as he walked up a couple of steps.
"Brother." Ed stopped and turned to look at him. "Since the day things went wrong, I blamed myself but I was afraid to say anything. I thought... I thought Mom had been turned into that thing because of me. I thought that if I hadn't done something wrong, Mom would still be alive and we would live normally. That's what I thought."
Ed looked at him sadly. "I blamed myself too."
Al put his hands to his helmet. "Thanks, brother. I didn't kill Mom after all."
"I might not have killed Mom but I'm still the one who put you in that body. I can't be forgiven if I give up now." Al lowered his hands and Ed looked at him with determination. "I don't care what you say, Al. I won't stop until I find a way to get your body back."
Before Ed could continue, Al interjected. "Brother, what you did was wrong but I'm to blame too. You don't have to carry the blame alone. You always try to take all the blame and that's painful to watch." Ed looked down slightly. "Watching you suffer like that..." He made a sighing sound before continuing. "After Mr. Hughes died, I told myself that if getting my body back meant someone else got hurt, I didn't want to do it. I've met people who weren't really human but still managed to find meaning in their existence. They made me realize that I could still live a full life. And the people I care about don't treat me any differently than they would if I were still human." Al placed a hand on the chest of his armor. "This metal body is like a time bomb that can be destroyed at any moment but... are flesh and blood humans really any different? After all, you can never predict when an illness or accident might take your life. This body doesn't stop me from leading a normal life. But... I've had enough. I..." Al lowered his hand and lifted his helmet to stare at Ed. "I don't want to spend my nights awake and alone anymore. That's the only reason I want to go back to normal. I want my original body back."
Ed stared at him and said in a tone that denoted the great love he had for his brother. "Al... I just want to see you smile again. That's all."
Al nodded. "I just don't want to drag someone else into this. So, brother, I want to be strong enough to protect the people around me. I'm going to get my body back and I'm not going to lose anyone in the process."
Ed laughed lightly and cracking a smile said. "I was thinking the same thing myself." At that moment he turned around and rested his automail hand on the stair railing. " There's no time to sit around and cry, we're going to do it! We're going to track that bastard Truth down and get your body out of that place!" Ed climbed the stairs followed closely by Al, both full of encouragement and determination.
Winry, who had stood to one side of the stairs while the boys were out of the room, began to follow them until her eye caught a detail she hadn't noticed before. Ed's back seemed wider than she remembered so his shoulders appeared broader and stronger. Since when...? Throughout her life, Ed had always been the same height or even smaller than her so, surprised, Winry stared at Ed until the boys entered the room being out of her field of vision. Until that moment, she shook her head slightly and shortly after entered the same room as the brothers.
Being in the room the three friends continued chatting about the recent discoveries about Al's body, including Ed's hypothesis that he and Al had somehow ended up connected by having combined drops of their blood when performing human transmutation, so it was likely that during all those years Ed had provided nutrients to Al's body.
After a light discussion in which milk ended up coming up, Ed was lost in thought for a moment as Al and Winry continued. Ed, for his part, began to reflect on all that his brother and his friend had told him about the events that had transpired during his absence. He couldn't help but shiver at the thought of his younger brother, his only blood family, being near death and him not being there to protect him. Luckily, that bastard did his job as commander and protected them. But I think I should still thank him, because if he hadn't... I would have been left alone in this world. With that thought, Ed promised himself to go the next morning to visit the Colonel to thank him.
That same night in a hospital room in Central, Havoc was resting while Roy was trying to fall asleep. His eyes were closed, but the pain of his wounds and the adrenaline from all that was happening were robbing him of sleep. He tried to inhale and exhale calmly to try to relax, until some memories came back to his mind: Riza with tears running down her cheeks, caressing and kissing his forehead, begging him not to die. Roy began to crack a slight smile on his face as he remembered the feel of her hands and lips on his forehead. Suddenly his smile vanished as he remembered the way he had spoken to her that morning.
You're such an idiot. She was devastated thinking you were dead and you just scolded her and treated her harshly. Don't forget that she's not just your subordinate, she's your best friend, the person closest and most loyal to you, the love of your life, the mother of your child. His own mind began to reproach him for his own actions. Now that he had a chance to analyze things calmly, he was realizing that he had been very harsh with her and that if he had been in the same position as she was, he probably would have acted the same way. Riza, forgive me, but regardless of what happens to me, you have to move on with your life. You can't let yourself be defeated like that, I'm not worth so much that you would give up your own life for me. His own mind answered him. Wouldn't you do the same if she had been in a similar situation or even if she died? Roy sighed. Of course I would. She is my world, my life, what keeps me grounded, what keeps me going... I was too harsh, I admit it. As soon as I get a chance I'll apologize. When he came to that determination, he couldn't help but imagine her sitting there beside him watching over him, just as she had done the night before, but not as his subordinate, but as his wife. He missed her presence immensely, but he knew that if he didn't order her to go and rest, she would never do it on her own and would stay there the entire time of his hospital stay. He continued to think about many things until sleep and exhaustion finally claimed him.
The next morning, Fuery changed shifts with the Lieutenant, who first thing in the morning reported to the Colonel, who inwardly was grateful to have her back, because as much as he liked Fuery, no one was or would be like Riza. She had stopped by the headquarters early to bring paperwork to fill out and organize during her watch because, despite the circumstances, she was still the ever-responsible Riza Hawkeye.
For his part, Roy always took a nap whenever he had the opportunity, which was the most advisable thing to do given his injuries. However, Roy could not always fall asleep because, given his current conditions, now to the nightmares of the war that he had from time to time, now were added those of the death of his friend and what happened with the homunculi Gluttony and Lust since because of both monsters, he was close to losing Riza. So, resigned to the fact that he would not be able to take his nap, he tried to close his eyes to at least try to relax.
Riza was outside the room doing a walk-through to make sure the place was safe and to keep an eye out for people coming in and out of the room. Havoc was not there at the moment as he had been taken to the X-Ray room with the intention of doing more tests to get a complete picture of his condition. So Roy was alone and silent in the room until Riza knocked on the door.
Roy opened his eyes. "Come in."
Riza entered the room. "Sir, you have a visitor."
"Who is it?" He questioned.
"Oh come on, Colonel bastard. Don't make such a big deal about letting people in who take the trouble to visit you. It's not like you're that important." Edward entered the room without waiting for permission for his entrance.
"Sir..."
Roy, who was sitting on his bed using the pillows as a backrest, folded his arms and sighed. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'm used to this brat's lack of manners by now so I'll take care of him. If you like, go get some lunch."
"But, sir, it's not a good idea for you to be left unprotected..." Riza began to argue.
"Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'll be fine. Besides, if something should come up, I can still defend myself and incidentally this knuckleheaded runt might be able to lend me a hand." Roy said as he smiled mischievously, waiting for the teenager's reaction.
"Who the hell are you calling a knucklehead runt? For your information, I'm still growing and if you haven't noticed I've grown a couple of inches these past few months." Ed grumbled.
"Don't you mean millimeters, Fullmetal?" Roy continued to tease Ed without removing his grin.
Ed continued to protest. "You're such an idiot. Even when I go to the trouble of visiting you."
Riza sighed and with a slight smile left the room. Seeing that the pair would continue arguing for a while, she decided to take the colonel up on his offer to grab some lunch quickly so she could get back before Edward left.
"Come on, Fullmetal, admit that if you came all this way it was because you missed me bothering you."
"Of course not." Ed walked over and sat down in the chair next to Roy's bed.
"So what brings you here? Do you want me to give you more information about your research or do you have some report due?" Roy sighed exaggeratedly. "Sorry to disappoint you but as you can see I have nothing for you and I don't think you owe any reports yet, well maybe a brief summary of your vacation would be interesting."
Ed sighed. "The vacation, as hard as it is for me to admit, I think it was very entertaining. I never thought I'd experience anything like it." He started to say, trying not to be too obvious so as not to give away that Lieutenant Ross was still alive. He bowed slightly. "You're good as an actor dammit." He whispered.
Roy's smile widened and he shrugged. "Maybe I picked the wrong career." He said lightly joking and then returned to a neutral expression as he settled back into his spot, unable to help but grimace at the pain of his wound. "But tell me, Fullmetal, what really brings you here?"
Ed looked at Roy for a moment and in that instant, for the first time he noticed that even though the colonel still maintained his same manner towards him, he looked paler than usual and he also noticed the grimace of pain as he settled in. Al had told him that Lust had pierced him in his left side. Now Ed could confirm that this wound was bothering him by noticing Roy occasionally pressing his left hand into his side and wincing. This bastard really was close to death.
Edward sighed, trying to gather his strength for what he wanted to say next. Now that he was seeing firsthand the state of his superior, he couldn't help but think about how close his brother and everyone else had come to death. Even if he didn't say it out loud, things wouldn't be the same without the colonel. As much as he sometimes hated his lousy sense of humor and didn't approve of his going from date to date, he acknowledged that he at least looked out for each of his subordinates in his own way. Besides the fact that if it hadn't been for his support, Al and he would still be in Resembool regretting what they did or worse, in the hands of the military being put on trial with Al ending up in a lab as a subject for experiments. He recognized that in his own way the Colonel was protecting his brother and him and as an older brother there was something he had to say about that.
Ed looked at him and scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Well...Al told me what happened the night you and Lieutenant Havoc were injured... "
"I guess you've repaired Al by now, right?" Roy asked.
Ed nodded. " Yes, I did."
"I'm glad, that kid is very brave."
"Yes, he is and I'm very proud of him. Al also told me that if you hadn't stepped in..." Ed paused because he was afraid to even say what was next. "He probably would have lost to Lust." He sighed. "You know he's the only family I have left..."
Roy couldn't believe the seriousness with which the teenager was speaking to him. In the time he had known him, he had rarely seen him like this, but he understood perfectly well what Al represented to the boy. So instead of making some tasteless joke to annoy him, he preferred to remain silent and allow the boy to continue.
"The bastard who fathered Al and me, abandoned us when we were very young, not caring about leaving my mother alone with two small children..." Ed couldn't help but clench his hands tightly into fists as he ducked his head. "A few years later, she got sick and died... It's true that Winry's grandmother took care of us whenever she could and tried to look out for us... so she and Winry are our family now. But Al... he is the only blood tie I have left, the only person who has lived through what I have lived through, who understands me perfectly... he is my younger brother and I promised my mother on her deathbed that I would always take care of him. If anything had happened to him while I was away, I would never have forgiven myself and I would have failed both my mother and the promise I made to Al..." He lifted his head to look Roy square in the face again. "That's why I want to thank you for taking care of him... Thank you, Colonel, for protecting him." Ed said denoting sincere gratitude in his tone of voice.
Roy stared at Ed and a sincere smile graced his face. "You have nothing to be grateful for, Fullmetal. Quite the contrary, I offer you an apology for exposing him in such a manner."
Ed shook his head. "We both know that Al can be just as stubborn as I am when it comes to helping. There would have been no human power to stop him from getting involved." He said, smiling slightly.
Roy nodded. "Still, it was no place for a child. But I won't deny that I'm deeply grateful for his help, without him I probably..." He paused, trying to get past the lump that had formed in his throat. "We would have lost the Lieutenant."
"Fortunately everyone got out of there alive and both Al and I are happy that you are safe." After a few moments of silence, Ed cracked a mischievous grin. "Colonel, you know... if you want to avoid your paperwork, I recommend you look for other alternatives instead of getting fingered by a seductive woman." He said jokingly.
Roy frowned. "Very funny, Fullmetal. Believe me, for the first time in my life I'd rather be doing my paperwork than to have had to go through all that and be putting up with this damn injury." Roy grumbled.
Ed laughed. "Especially if that wound keeps you tied to the bed without the ability to go after women like Havoc, doesn't it? Or is it just your excuse to be flirting with the nurses?" Remembering the conversation he'd had last night with Al and Winry, he decided to add. "Well as long as the Lieutenant isn't chasing them away." He said as he winked at him.
Roy wasn't sure if the boy was implying what he was thinking, but he knew he had to answer carefully to avoid trouble in the future. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about, brat. I'm not going to deny to you that I miss hanging out with my dates, but I'm more concerned about all the paperwork that's piling up in my absence and that will fall on me all at once upon my return."
Ed tried to see if in Mustang's face or gaze he could find any sign of what Winry and Al suspected, but he saw nothing, although after the way he had fooled him about the Maria Ross' matter, he wouldn't be surprised if maybe the colonel was acting again. Damn, if this idiot is acting again, I have to admit he's pretty good at it.
Ed sighed and stood up. "All right, Mustang, whatever you say. Glad to see you're still the same old idiot." Roy frowned. "You'd better pull yourself together soon, because it's not fair to have the whole unit doing your job."
Ed started to back away and just as he placed his hand on the doorknob, Roy caught his eye. "Fullmetal." Ed turned. "Thanks for the visit. Please stay out of trouble while Havoc and I are here, as you may realize, we're short-handed enough to get you out of your troubles, runt." Roy said this last with a smirk.
Ed frowned and continued on his way as he waved his hand. "Whatever you say."
"I'm serious, brat." Roy warned him, however Ed didn't think much of it and retreated, as Roy sighed and allowed himself to relax on his bed, having stifled several moans of pain from his injury in front of Ed.
Edward was walking down the hallway when he ran into the Lieutenant, so she stopped and started talking to him.
"Are you retiring already Edward?" She asked in a gentle tone.
Ed nodded. "Yes, Lieutenant. I'm glad to hear that despite all the difficulties you, Havoc and the Colonel are alive." He cracked a slight smile.
"Thank you, Edward." She changed her face to a slightly more serious one. "I'm truly sorry about what happened with Al-"
Before she could continue, Ed interrupted her, "Don't worry, Lieutenant. Al told me that you offered him an apology and you know perfectly well that he doesn't hold grudges. I know my brother and so I understand why he acted the way he did. After all we both promised that we were no longer going to let anyone close to us die and that we would protect everyone we could."
She smiled slightly. "You really are exceptional boys."
Ed shook his head. "Not at all, we're just a couple of idiots who committed the worst taboo in alchemy, but we've learned our lesson and we really want our bodies back without hurting or endangering anyone in the process."
"I know you'll make it." Riza said as she placed her left hand on Ed's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
Ed smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
"Thank you for your understanding, Edward. Please be careful. We don't know yet who is involved in all this. Don't let your guard down."
Ed nodded. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. Al and I know how to take care of ourselves just fine." He said with a tone full of confidence.
Delicately Riza pulled her hand away and raised an eyebrow, slightly intimidating Ed. "Don't get overconfident, it's the worst thing you can do, especially when the enemy is unknown. I don't wish two boys to expose themselves to danger."
"I understand, Lieutenant, we'll be careful. Besides, the Colonel has just told me the same thing. Perhaps he said that because he doesn't want to have extra paperwork if we get into trouble." Ed joked as he placed his hands behind his head.
"Edward." She chided him lightly, placing her left hand back on his shoulder. "Don't take this as a game. This situation is a matter of life or death. We had too much luck last time, so let's not overuse it." She said in a serious tone.
Ed could see the Lieutenant's obvious concern in her gaze and felt a little guilty that he had behaved somewhat childish with such a situation. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant. Al and I will be careful." He finally said as he dropped his hands to his sides.
She nodded. "Well, please take care of yourselves and if you need anything don't hesitate to tell us."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'd better get going. Al should be waiting for me in the library. I'll see you later."
She removed her hand from Ed's shoulder and said goodbye to the boy with a slight smile. "Goodbye, Edward. Say hello to Alphonse."
When Ed disappeared from Riza's sight, she headed to Roy's room to make sure if he didn't need something, before returning to her post at the entrance to it. He knew Havoc would be at least another couple of hours into his exams, so perhaps the colonel would want some books or something to entertain himself or maybe some extra doses of his pain meds. When she reached the door, she knocked and entered at the colonel's instruction.
"Sir, can I get you anything?"
Roy shook his head, though Riza was sure his injury was probably bothering him, after all, she was the only one who could read him like the back of her hand.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine thank you, Lieutenant." He replied.
She nodded her head. "Well, if you need anything I'll be out here."
Riza was retreating when Roy stopped her with his voice. "Lieutenant, please wait."
"Yes?" she asked without turning around but glancing over her shoulder.
"Please come over and take a seat next to me. I need to speak with you." Roy said, pointing to the chair next to his bed.
She closed the door and did as he indicated. Roy again tried to settle back into his sitting position, wincing in the process, so Riza helped him arrange his pillows on his back, placing a hand on his chest to help him recline. He couldn't help but feel the electricity coursing through his body at the touch of her hand and as she was withdrawing her hand to return to her chair, he took it and brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckles.
Riza was surprised by the gesture, since it was neither the right place nor the right time, but she couldn't help but enjoy it. When he finished, Roy took her right hand in his left hand and intertwined their fingers before looking into her eyes.
"Sir, this is inappropriate." She said softly, meeting his dark gaze.
"It's just the two of us, and we're not yelling." He joked before changing his face to a more serious one. "Besides I need to talk to you."
She sighed. "I don't think this is necessary in order to talk." She said pointing to their clasped hands.
"For what I have to tell you it is necessary. Besides I'm convalescing, I deserve a little pampering, don't you think?" He said with a childish tone.
"I thought the nurses were already taking care of that." She said with a neutral tone, although, internally, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the closeness they could have while she was forbidden to have it.
He squeezed her hand lightly. "You know that the cuddles and caresses I really care about and desire, are those of the woman I love."
She averted her gaze, trying to keep from blushing. "What is it that you desire, Sir?" She said trying to return to the original topic, emphasizing the formality in her words.
Roy sighed. "Right now I don't want to talk to Lieutenant Hawkeye, I want to talk to Riza." She returned her gaze to him. "I want to apologize to you, I behaved like a jerk the other day when I yelled at you."
"You were right to scold me, Sir. I acted in the worst possible way and that is unacceptable." She interrupted him.
He shook his head. "I had no right to speak to you that way."
"Sir, you don't have to apologize, I fully understand my mistakes-"
"Damn it, Riza." He moved causing his left side to twitch, so he pressed it with his right hand without moving his left hand that held Riza's. She was about to stand up to help him but he immediately indicated with his head that it was not necessary. He inhaled and exhaled a few times until he felt the pain was already a little more tolerable.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, not after everything we've shared together, not when I probably would have acted the same way had I been in your place." He said looking her straight in the eyes to show her the sincerity of his words. "I lost control. I should have been more understanding but I couldn't help but be enraged knowing that you would give up on living if anything happened to me."
She ducked her gaze. "Without you, I really have no reason to go on." She whispered.
"And that terrifies me." Roy said with a tone of deep concern. She lifted her gaze again. "Riza, you and I both know the risks involved in our work. We were very lucky this time, but now we know we're up against something very powerful. If I don't run the same luck next time... I couldn't forgive myself for being the reason for depriving this world of such a good and gentle person."
"When I promised that I would follow you even to hell, I meant it."
He sighed. "You don't have to. What's more, I don't want you to, it's bad enough that I dragged you into this hell of suffering." He said guiltily.
She shook her head. "You didn't force me into anything, it was my own decisions that dragged me here. Besides, what would you do in my place?"
Roy laid his head back on the pillows and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "Probably the same thing."
"That's where you're making a mistake." He raised his head again to look at her. "Remember that you have a goal to accomplish. If you die, all the effort we've put in all these years will have been for nothing. I am expendable but you are not." She told him in a serious tone.
"Are you crazy?! How can you talk like that? You are not expendable, quite the opposite. You are what keeps me going and motivates me to keep fighting for that goal. If anything should happen to me, you have to move on with your life-"
"Don't you understand that without you there is no life for me?" She interrupted him with a serious tone.
"Of course there is. You are a very beautiful, intelligent, good and gentle woman. I know, without a doubt, that you would easily find a man worthy of you."
She glared at him. "You know my heart already has an owner and even if it didn't, I have no right to seek my happiness when I denied it to my own son, to you and to numerous people in Ishval." Riza said, trying to keep her tone from cracking and the tears from starting to spill over.
He kissed her hand and squeezed it again. "Riza... you made mistakes because you're human, but you deserve a second chance."
"You made mistakes too, so tell me do you even feel entitled to a second chance?"
Roy sighed heavily, as he shook his head. "Why are you so stubborn?"
She lightly cracked a smile. "I'm asking you the same thing."
Roy snorted. "I think I got off topic...please excuse me, I behaved like a fucking idiot."
She squeezed his hand. "Apology accepted if you also apologize me for my behavior."
"I have nothing to apologize for. But please don't follow me down that road if it comes up again. You have to move on. If you don't want to pursue your happiness, at least keep fighting to improve the country for our son."
She exhaled heavily. "Please, I no longer wish to continue this conversation."
Roy knew that for the moment he would not make any headway, so he decided not to press any further. Instead he opted to gently tug on her hand to direct her to sit next to him on the bed.
She frowned. "Sir, you know perfectly well-"
"No sir. Please, just for a few moments." He pleaded putting on his best puppy dog eyes.
She sighed and relented, carefully sitting down beside him. Then he released her hand and gently caressed her face before leaning down and kissing her on the lips. When they parted, she carefully laid her head on his shoulder and placed her hand over his heart. He wrapped his left arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Be careful, don't hurt yourself any more." She warned him affectionately.
He shook his head before depositing a kiss on her head. "This is what I need to feel better."
Riza sighed and dared to voice aloud the fear that had filled her a couple of days ago. "Please don't scare me like that again. Don't leave me." She pleaded lightly to him.
"Remember that weeds never die. Besides I once told you I would always come back to you, but now I want to add something else: I always will if you promise to do the same with me."
A few seconds passed in silence until Riza nodded.
"Well, it's about time we came to an agreement." She smacked him lightly on his chest, which caused him to reflexively twitch a bit and thus feel pain in his side, letting out a slight whimper in the process.
She raised her head to look at him. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I deserved it for being a jerk to you and scaring you." He replied as he squeezed her side with his free hand.
"I think that maybe I can help you to forget about the pain for a moment."
"How? I'd like to know." He asked, still moaning slightly.
She gently took his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Riza knew this was risky but after the scare she lived through of thinking he was dead, she wouldn't miss the opportunity to make sure he was still by her side. When they both pulled away slightly for air, they smiled slightly.
"I definitely love this medicine, it's so much better than injections." He said before stealing another kiss from Riza as he hugged her.
When they broke apart again, she gently caressed his injured cheek. "I'm glad it's working, but I'm afraid I'd better get back to my post before Havoc or any of the nurses return."
Roy made a pouty face that made Riza smile. "Seriously, you're hopeless, you're still acting like a child despite the time." She leaned in again and kissed him.
"And you still like me like this?" Roy asked with a playful tone after the kiss.
She decided to ignore him and started to stand up, but Roy stopped her. "Thank you, Riza."
Riza nodded and before standing up, she kissed his forehead. "I will return to my post. If you need anything, please let me know, Sir."
Roy sighed, he hated having to go back to the same old routine, but he was aware that they were exposed to someone seeing them. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
"Please try to get some rest, Sir."
"I'll try." He responded by cracking a slight smile.
She smiled back. "By the way, Sir, did everything go well with Edward?" She asked before retiring.
"Indeed, Lieutenant. The misunderstanding with Fullmetal is settled, though that doesn't mean he's going to stop behaving like a spoiled brat." Roy joked.
"Well, maybe he'd do it less if you didn't provoke him. You know how explosive Edward can be, not to mention he's at a difficult age."
"Come on, Lieutenant, it's fun to piss that kid off. Besides, we've all been through adolescence and it's not even my fault he's so short." Roy grinned mischievously.
Riza shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder if you've outgrown that stage, Sir."
Roy frowned. "Why do you say that, Lieutenant?"
"Because sometimes you forget that you're the adult and behave the same or worse than Edward."
Roy crossed his arms. "I wouldn't if that brat didn't get on my nerves. It would be another thing if he behaved like Alphonse, that boy sure knows how to behave. I'm even surprised sometimes that they're brothers with how different they are."
"Well, just because they're brothers doesn't mean they must have the same character. Maybe one inherited his father's and the other his mother's or a combination of both. But despite their differences in character, they are really close and I'm glad for that." She said, smiling slightly at the end.
He nodded. "You know, Lieutenant, Fullmetal thanked me for saving Alphonse and, as surprising as it sounds, he was honest with me in telling me how worried he was to learn what had happened since Alphonse is the only blood tie he has left. Well except for his father, but from his behavior, I can tell he's not very adept at it and I don't blame him, I would probably feel the same way if my father had abandoned my mother. I can't believe there are guys out there who would do that." Roy said this last with slight annoyance.
"Unfortunately there are, sir. But at least Edward and Alphonse are good guys who, despite the adversities, have pulled through and they always look out for and support each other." Riza said, inwardly feeling admiration and affection for the boys. "I'm glad the misunderstanding has been resolved." She added.
He nodded. "Me too. It wouldn't do any good to have a sulking teenager ruining my plans." He said jokingly at last.
"Well, Sir, I'd better let you get some rest. If you need anything, please let me know." Riza said as she walked away.
"Thank you, Lieutenant, for everything." Roy said, meeting Riza's brown gaze for a moment.
She nodded and finally withdrew from the room. For his part, Roy leaned back and closed his eyes, reliving the kisses he had been able to steal from Riza a few minutes ago as he cracked a smile. Without realizing it, sleep claimed him soon after.
Riza resumed her seat at the entrance to the room and began working through the paperwork she had brought with her. In her mind she began to analyze Roy's words, about not giving up and moving forward, if not for herself, at least to keep working to create a better country for her son. She sighed as she remembered her son. My son, despite not being by your side I always think of you, even though I lost that right the moment I abandoned you, I can't help but do so. Forgive me for giving up, I was very shocked at the thought of losing your father but he is right, I still have many things to do to ensure a better future for you. Even though your father did not have the joy of knowing you, he is always thinking of you and creating a better world for you and all of Amestris. He has always been a dreamer for as long as I have known him. I wonder if you will be too, and if you are, I wish you are not as naive as we were. In the meantime, we will both continue to fight side by side for that dream, for you and for the whole country.
